What are definitions of Religious Extremists?

Question

I am doing a project which requires me to do an 'analysis of religious extremism in the context of the british defence policy' so any heads up on religious extremism would be a bonus.

Answer 1

I will give you examples and you will find the definition yourself.
I am a Muslim and on this world there are some Muslims who are extremist; lets take the example of bin laden.

There is in the Koran the following :
chapter 60 verse 8 and 9 :
8 : "Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity."
9 : "It is only as regards those who fought against you on account of religion, and have driven you out of your homes, and helped to drive you out, that Allah forbids you to befriend them. And whosoever will befriend them, then such are the wrong-doers."

So bin laden just forget about those verses and understand the Koran his way to reach his own objectives.

Another example of religious extremist is what happen what the Spanish kicked out the Muslims from Andalusia (Spain) after they lived there during 800 years; they killed all of them or forced them to convert to Christianity. they did the same to Jew as well.

There are many examples from different religions.

Answer 2

An extremist is someone whose views are not shared by major media, political, or religious figures.

The term "extremist" is generally simply pejorative. The label tells us little of substance about those labeled, and should be shunned unless the religious sect in question is unquestionably murderous or abusive.

Answer 3

Christians

Answer 4

Check out the link to wikipedia below:

In comparative religion, fundamentalism has come to refer to several different understandings of religious thought and practice, through literal interpretation of religious texts such as the Bible or the Qur'an and sometimes also anti-modernist movements in various religions.

Answer 5

I would say an extremist is someone who follows a certain religion, but in the view of others, their religion has become out of hand. This could be because they are harming their surrounding society or group of people. It is usually reffered to when someone is either causing great pain or harm on behalf of their faith, or even murder.

Answer 6

Religious extremism: a belief in a religion to the point of being publicly disruptive.

Answer 7

Jim Jones

Answer 8

I'd define an extremist as someone who interprets their God's dubious words literally, rather than figuritively. If Christians interpreted parts of the Bible literally, they would be putting homosexuals to death, and would also be regarded as extremists.

Answer 9

How about this as a working definition: "someone who uses religion to justify living outside society's norms". I guess I could quite easily fit that pattern... but bombing people is surely wrong.

Answer 10

Well, that's going to be Muslim extremists, unfortuately. English Christians are so straight-laced that they can't conceive of extremist Christians who aren't Irish.